Quieting vibrations/resonating

[Thraxen]

I have a Chenming SX1040 case and recently added a second HDD. After I added the second HDD I started getting a vibration in the case that is resulting in a humming/resonating sound. The sound will ramp up then back down over and over. It's not real loud, but just enough to be annoying. I've been unable to locate the actual source of the sound so far. Anyone have any ideas on how I can dampen this vibration?

 

[PraetorianGuards]

Thraxen, you probably have already tried this but have you tightened all the screws? If you think it's the hdd's you can buy hdd enclosures that will dampen the vibration/noise. Also, what model hdd did you add?

 

[Thraxen]

Yeah, I tried tightening the screws. I have a 100 GB and 80 GB WD SE HDDs in the bottom drive cage.

 

[powergyoza]

Sorry to break this to you, but other than RMA'ing the drive (no guarantee it will help either), there's not other way to fix it than by decouping the drives from the case.

I'd recommend either a NoVibesIII or a SmartDrive. Both available from SiliconAcoustics.com. It means, however, that you'll need to move the drives into your 5-1/4" bays.

 

[EeyoreX]

Originally posted by: powergyoza
Sorry to break this to you, but other than RMA'ing the drive (no guarantee it will help either), there's not other way to fix it than by decouping the drives from the case.

I'd recommend either a NoVibesIII or a SmartDrive. Both available from SiliconAcoustics.com. It means, however, that you'll need to move the drives into your 5-1/4" bays.

I don't think RMAing the drive is neccessary to solve this issue, especially if the noise is vibration of the case components caused by the spin up of the drive (this is what I understood the post to mean, where your solution to RMA the drive leads me to believe you think he is saying the drive itself is making the noise). One way is to tighten the screws, as was mentioned. Another is to use rubber washers between the drive and the drive cage, which would be about the same as tightening the screws in that it prevents vibration. He could try a variety of sound damping materials or moving the drives around the cage to different slots. Maybe it is the cage itself that is loose? My cage is attached to my case by thumbscrews to be easily removed to install drives, and a lose screw here could be vibrating. It may a molex connector that is vibrating near the cage/side of the case when the hard drive spins up. Maybe it is a lose fan and not actually the hard drive at all. I had a fan with one loose clip deal and it would intermittently vibrate. Of course, 5 1/4 drive bay enclousers are also an option, just not one of two.

\Dan

 

[RalfHutter]

You might just have a funky HDD. I had this happen to me with a brand new drive a few months ago. I installed the drive and immediately noticed case resonation that I never had before. I tried tightening the drive and moving it to a different bay and it stayed the same. Removed the drive from the bay and held it in my hand when I restarted the system. Drive was vibrating much more than a normal drive. RMA'd it and replacement drive was fine, no resonating at all. Something must have been out of balance on that drive.

 

[Thraxen]

OK, the source of the actual sound appears to be the front plastic face plate on the case. If I press on the front of the case (in the area of the venting on the lower half) the sound goes away. Any ideas on how I could secure this thing? It's pretty tight to begin with, but obviously not enough. Either that or by pressing on face plate my arm is absorbing some of the vibration. Anyway, this is starting to get really annoying. I may just remove the the thing totally.

 

[BG4533]

The face plate obviously doesnt make the noise. Something in your system is making it, and you would be best off trying to fix whatever the vibration is coming from. Do you have a very strong fan behind it? The faceplate is probably what is making the noise. I dont have any good, non ugly ways of making the face plate tighter and still removable...sorry.

 

[ReiAyanami]

get a seagate barracuda IV or V which is rated the worlds quietest HD, 24db rating while other brand exceed 34db, that's logarithmically 1/10th the sound intensity

 

[styrafoam]

I just switched cases for this exact same reason, the side panel of mine would resonate but would stop when I placed my hand against it. It fit nice and tight, but since it was the left panel I couldnt really troubleshoot it to well because getting inside meant taking off said panel. I suspect it was the intake fan as it was mounted in a plastic cage instead of screwed in.

 

[VisableAssassin]

well you could try spending $20 on some paxmate and giving it a shot.
I bought some a little while ago for my setup and it works pretty good. and i havent seen any temp increases neither

 

[BG4533]

Is the PAX Mate really heavy enough to stop vibrations? I ordered some a few weeks ago from SVC, but they were out. I ended up with SonexMini from 2CoolTek. Seems to work well, but at 1" think, it doesnt fit everywhere.
To find out if it is the hard drives, try unplugging them and starting up the system, if it is them, the noise will be gone. Check out
Silent PC Review, they have some good cheap ways to quiet things. There is an article about suspending HDs with elastic. I was considering trying it for myself.

Brian

 

[vicwang]

SVC has some in stock right now for $10.99.

PaxMate

I used it in one of my cases and it wasn't a HUGE difference, but I think it was worth it. I think the ideal combination would be to first apply some Dynamat (or other vibration-suppression material) then put a layer of the PaxMate over the Dynamat. That way you have vibration suppression, noise absorption, and a noise barrier. I haven't heard of anyone using such a combination though.

 

[vicwang]

"OK, the source of the actual sound appears to be the front plastic face plate on the case. If I press on the front of the case... the sound goes away."

I'd suggest using some strategically-placed electrical tape. On my case I lined the "rims" of the plastic bezel with electrical tape so that it would be flush and a tight seal with the drives. That way it fits snugly and is an almost airtight seal, preventing noise from escaping and air from getting sucked through the cracks. It's barely visible too since I only applied it "between" the drives and bezel. I hope that makes sense, if not let me know.

 

[longhorn]

I had a similar problem with the ATX backplate on my Chemming 1040. Just kept pressing my finger around until I
found it. A little dab of silicon glue in the corner, let it dry overnight, and no more vibration anymore.
Set me back less than $2 at the Lowe's.

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: BG4533
Is the PAX Mate really heavy enough to stop vibrations? I ordered some a few weeks ago from SVC, but they were out. I ended up with SonexMini from 2CoolTek. Seems to work well, but at 1" think, it doesnt fit everywhere.
To find out if it is the hard drives, try unplugging them and starting up the system, if it is them, the noise will be gone. Check out
Silent PC Review, they have some good cheap ways to quiet things. There is an article about suspending HDs with elastic. I was considering trying it for myself.

Brian

for me it was i noticed a huge difference with it.
other than that you could spen aboutt he same at autozone or what not and get rubber pickup truck bed liner...........it comes in a can you "paint" it on but that stuff should stop all LOL

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: VisableAssassin

Originally posted by: BG4533
Is the PAX Mate really heavy enough to stop vibrations? I ordered some a few weeks ago from SVC, but they were out. I ended up with SonexMini from 2CoolTek. Seems to work well, but at 1" think, it doesnt fit everywhere.
To find out if it is the hard drives, try unplugging them and starting up the system, if it is them, the noise will be gone. Check out
Silent PC Review, they have some good cheap ways to quiet things. There is an article about suspending HDs with elastic. I was considering trying it for myself.

Brian

for me it was i noticed a huge difference with it.
other than that you could spen aboutt he same at autozone or what not and get rubber pickup truck bed liner...........it comes in a can you "paint" it on but that stuff should stop all LOL

I did this in my trunk to try to keep the sound from my sub IN, but I think it was undercoating rather than bed liner. Be careful though, the fumes are pretty bad and this stuff will stink for a while. I don't know if you would want to put it in your computer.

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: LyNx01

Originally posted by: VisableAssassin

Originally posted by: BG4533
Is the PAX Mate really heavy enough to stop vibrations? I ordered some a few weeks ago from SVC, but they were out. I ended up with SonexMini from 2CoolTek. Seems to work well, but at 1" think, it doesnt fit everywhere.
To find out if it is the hard drives, try unplugging them and starting up the system, if it is them, the noise will be gone. Check out
Silent PC Review, they have some good cheap ways to quiet things. There is an article about suspending HDs with elastic. I was considering trying it for myself.

Brian

for me it was i noticed a huge difference with it.
other than that you could spen aboutt he same at autozone or what not and get rubber pickup truck bed liner...........it comes in a can you "paint" it on but that stuff should stop all LOL

I did this in my trunk to try to keep the sound from my sub IN, but I think it was undercoating rather than bed liner. Be careful though, the fumes are pretty bad and this stuff will stink for a while. I don't know if you would want to put it in your computer.

that is true the stuff doesnt smell all the great but works pretty good i used it on an older case that was using2 120mm A/C fans that pushed somehting like 175cfm a piece. on the other hand the paxmate has a slight smell to it but nothing big and the smell goes away in about an hour or so after instalation.....well for me it did but it sure as hell didnt stink like dynamat

 

[Zukatah]

I had the same exact problem as you with vibrations with my Antec 880 Plus case. I have a Seagate Barracuda 4 and 2 Western Digitals (One Linux, the other is Windows) and I sometimes have bad vibrations, usually in the middle in the night... What I usually do is push the front cover a bit and it usually does the trick. If not, try removing it and then remounting it, it may help for a while. By the way, I'll never get a HDD that isn't Seagate anymore, it's so silent !!!

 

[Bluefront]

The cause of the vibrations is not the case itself.....rather it is either the fans or the hard drives, and the mounting techniques. These are the places to consentrate your efforts at quieting. I've had success using stick-on automobile lead wheel weights, applied at the vibration source. Heavier things vibrate less.....

 

[everman]

I have the same case, and my drive would vibrate a little in its enclosure if I didn't do this: All I simply do is see where the drive has room to move around abit causing the vibration. Then I just take a piece of paper folded to a certain thickness, and wedge it in there. The drive no longer can move around thus no vibration, and it costs nothing.